Mechanical Pong

[Berserker]

Mechanical Pong (http://www.cyberniklas.de/pongmechanik/indexen.html)

Found on Slashdot (http://www.slashdot.org/):


This amazing device faithfully re-creates the classic original video game with pulleys, wires, motors and a (pre-chip, pre-transistor, pre-tube) relay based computer. They were partly inspired by Konrad Zuse, who created some of the first electromechanical and electronic computers.

http://www.cyberniklas.de/pongmechanik/fotos/14.jpg

[Funkenstein]

That is freakin' nuts.

[Raedon]

Amazing.

What a great artistic project. Wonder how much he would sell it for.

[NE146]

Very cool. Thanks for the link :)

[Raedon]

Check the video link at the bottom.. Iteresting but this pong does not spead up.. Games at that speed would last until people fell over asleep..

[Berserker]

Yeah, I just got done watching the video actually, I found the whole thing really interesting. I would think playing something like that would probably have a more "real" feel to it, what with actual moving pieces as opposed to a video screen, and real wooden blocks that clank together for sound effects.

I do agree that it does look a little slow, though... and I'd imagine upgrading it would probably be a hell of a lot harder than just changing a few lines of code. Damn impressive, nonetheless.

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

This.......needs to be at the next Classic Gaming Expo, frankly.

[Cryomancer]

Oh man, construction plans please.

[christianscott27]

nerds, going to all that trouble when it was done better and smaller 25 years ago.

http://users2.ev1.net/~rik1138/Tomy/Blip.htm

geesh who didnt have this game?

anybody else wonder about the joysticks on that thing? they look like 5200 comp. pro sticks.

[Sniderman]

nerds, going to all that trouble when it was done better and smaller 25 years ago.

http://users2.ev1.net/~rik1138/Tomy/Blip.htm



Gah! Beat me to it! ^%%$@$% :angry: (I bought one at EGCE, in fact, and also picked up a Digital Derby! Tomy was great for "mechanical devices that acted like videogames".)

[MarioAllStar2600]

Yea I have a Blip also. That thing is lots of fun. You can hold in the serve button and hit it everytime though. LOL

That thing does look hella cool. I would love to see it at CGE. Seems slow but it's so awsome that speed doesnt matter.

[Ed Oscuro]

nerds, going to all that trouble when it was done better and smaller 25 years ago.

http://users2.ev1.net/~rik1138/Tomy/Blip.htm



Gah! Beat me to it! ^%%$@$% :angry: (I bought one at EGCE, in fact, and also picked up a Digital Derby! Tomy was great for "mechanical devices that acted like videogames".)
Same here! I've got a boxed unit. They're crappy, but cool at the same time.

[NE146]

I still know the entire Pattern to Blip. It got to the point where the ball would go, and I'd have my finger on the next correct button before it even got served back to me. LOL

Good fun stuff though. But you could only go so far with electromechanical handhelds.. didn't stop me from buying them up though :) Did you know that my first Space Invaders handheld was an EM as well? It was from Bandai.. that thing just made the invaders shake while you shot at the UFO. x_x

[Ninja Blacksox]

Goddammit.

I can't believe I missed this.

Apologies to all for retarding up your otherwise intelligent forums.

-A Boy

[Berserker]

No apology nescessary, this thread was all the way on the next page anyways. :)

But this thing is just amazing, isn't it?

I'd love to see something like this in action, in person.

[Nesmaster]

id like to play it :D